Journal-box.



No- 838,225. PATENTED DEC. 11, 1906. A. G. WEBER & C. P. MUELLER.

JOURNAL BOX.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ALBERT C. WEBER AND CHARLES P. MUELLER, OF CLEVELAND, OHIO.

JOURNAL-BOX.

To all whom, it may concern: Be it known that we, ALBERT G. WEBE and CHARLES P. MUELLER, citizens of the United States, residing at Cleveland, in the count of Cuyahoga and State of Ohio, have invented new and useful Improvements in Journal-Boxes, of which the following is a specification.

This invention is a device to prevent the theft of brasses from journal-boxes of railway-cars, and comprises an automatic latch which engages the cap or saddle which holds the brass and revents the removal of-the same until the firass shall have become worn out or unless the journal is removed from the box, as at the shop.

The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a perspective view of the interim of a journalbox, the top and part of the front being removed. Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the cap or saddle which holds the brass. Figs. 3, i, and 5 are details of one of the automatic latches which lock the cap and brass in place.

Referring specifically to the drawings, 6 indicates a car-axle, j ournal-box of any desired or suitable construction. This receives the journal 7, upon which rests the brass 8, held by the cap 9. Said cap, which may oth erwise be of any desired or improved construction, has at the back end thereof an 11 right extension 10, which fits against tfie back 6 of the journal-box. Said extension is grooved at the side, as at 11, and on the rear side the wall of the groove is cut away, as at 12.

Secured to the back of the journal-box is a pair of spring-latches, each of which consists of a casing 13, having therein latch-bolt 14, with a spring 15 behind the same to normally advance it. The latches are oppositely presented, so as to respectively engage in the opposite grooves 11 in the upright extension on the cap and serve to hold said cap against any possibility of removal except in an authorized manner. It is to be noticed that the front walls of the grooves 11 are extended laterally a suflicient distance to conceal from the front the ends of the spring latch-bolts referred to.

When the brasses and caps are 1put in place, the upright extension at the bac r of the cap Specification of Letters Patent. Application filed August 25.1906. Serial No. 332,030.

Patented Dec. 11, 1906.

is forced against the latch-bolts, and they yield and then snap over the rear wall of the groove. It is then impossible to remove the cap and brass without getting at the latchbolts. the casings of which are blind or closed,

and hence theft of the brasses by removal of the same through the door of the journal-box is impossible; but as the brass wears the cap follows down until the brass becomes worn out, at which time the latch-bolts 14 will have reached a position opposite the recess 12 at the top of the groove, and the cap and brass can therefore then be pulled out for the insertion of a new brass, after which the parts may be replaced, as above described.

It will be seen from the above description that an automatic lock is formed which will effectually prevent any attempt to steal the brasses from such journal-boxes.

It is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the particular construction shown and described, but various modifications may be made within the scope of the following claims.

We claim- 1. The combination with a journal-box, of a brass and its cap therein, the cap having a groove at the edge, and a spring-latch mounted upon a wall of the box and engageable in said groove, to prevent removal of the cap, the latch being yieldable to pressure of the cap against it when the cap is inserted.

2. The combination with a journal-box, of a brass and its cap therein, the cap being r0- vided with vertical grooves in its side edges, and opposite latches secured to the box and engageable in the grooves.

3. The combination with a journal-box having opposite spring-latches secured to a wall thereof, of a brass and its cap in the box, the latter having an upright extension provided with grooves in its side edges engageable by the latches, the rear walls of the grooves having recesses at the top, for the purpose stated.

In testimony whereof we have signed our names to thls specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

ALBERT C. WVEBER. CHARLES P. lWUELLER. Vitnesses:

SHIRLEY J. BOMMI-IARDT, EDITH D. CoMER. 

